ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ban on single use plastic
The prohibition on identified single use plastic items was notified on 12th August 2021 and it came into effect from 1st July 2022. Transition time was provided to units manufacturing banned single use plastic to shift to alternatives. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has schemes to provide support to MSME units, which include support to such units earlier involved in manufacturing of banned single use plastic items for switching over to alternatives / other products. These schemes provide support in respect of technology upgradation, creating awareness, marketing support, infrastructural support, as per scheme guidelines. The manufacturing of alternatives will create new job opportunities and business models.GST Council secretariat has been suggested to adjust the GST rates in order to increase adoption of alternatives to banned single use items.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Extension of Coverage of ESI
As on 01.01.2017, Government had increased wage limit for coverage of employees under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 from Rs.15,000 to Rs.21,000 Per Month. Consequently, the number of Insured Persons has increased as following:
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|
Year
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|
No. of Insured Persons 
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|
2015-16
|
|
2.13
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2016-17
|
|
3.19
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2017-18
|
|
3.43
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2018-19
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|
3.49
This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State  for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
President's Secretariat
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
The President of India has administered the oath of office to Shri Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha as Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission at a ceremony held today  at 10.00 a.m. at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
IndianOil’s sustainable initiatives detailed at India Pavilion at COP 27, Egypt
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, a Central Public Sector Undertaking, held a session today as a part of side events at the Indian Pavilion at COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The session covered IndianOil's initiatives on biofuels, sustainable solar based cooking, carbon efficient refinery technologies and its initiatives in energy transition.
The Indian Oil Corporation Limited elaborated on its goals and pathways to achieve Net-Zero by 2046. The corporation also discussed India's efforts in enhancing the Biofuels portfolio vis-a-vis Ethanol, Compressed Biogas , Biodiesel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and the recently launched 'Surya Nutan' solar cookstove. Energy consumption reduction initiatives of Indian Oil's Refineries which resulted in carbon emissions reduction were also detailed.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, India’ national oil company has been at the forefront of Country’s energy transition to clean fuels and reducing emissions from its process. IndianOil has recently announced its goals to achieve Net Zero Scope 1&2 emissions by 2046.
IndianOil's mission to achieve Net-Zero by 2046 is guided by the Panchamrit Plan of Prime Minister Modi announced at COP 26 at Glasgow and PM Modi's Mission LiFE, the theme of India Pavilion at COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh.
Further reference:
To read more about IndianOil’s Net Zero by 2026 click here.
To read more about Surya Nutan Solar Cookstove click here.
Reach us at envforestpib[at]gmail[dot]com
Ministry of Education
Avinash Murlidhar Parkhe from Goa to receive National Teachers' Award 2023
Avinash Murlidhar Parkhe, hailing from the Disha School for Special Children in Goa, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious National Teachers' Award for 2023. President Smt Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers’ Awards 2023 to 75 selected Awardees on 5th September 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Every year, India celebrates 5th September, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, as National Teachers’ Day
Avinash Murlidhar Parkhe has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing special education in Goa. With commendable 30-year tenure as a certified special educator at the Disha School for Special Children in Panaji, Mr. Parkhe has left an indelible mark on the education, training, rehabilitation, and employment of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Shri Parkhe's teaching approach is distinguished by its creativity and adaptability. His methods have not only equipped his students with practical life skills and foundational learning concepts but have also fostered independent living skills. To further support the school's mission and boost enrollment, he has organized Screening and Detection Camps for children with special needs, established a vocational training facility, initiated an early stimulation program, and spearheaded on-the-job training and job placement initiatives.
One of Shri Parkhe's notable accomplishments is the development of individualized curricula tailored to the unique needs and abilities of each student. This approach has not only improved student socialization and interaction with their peers and parents but has also cultivated a more positive attitude towards learning.
Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000 and a silver medal. The awardees would also get an opportunity to interact with Prime Minister.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Climate change, glacier topography & morphology control glacial retreat
Change in debris cover plays a critical role in the glacier surface lowering, shrinkage, retreat, and mass balance, according to a recent study. Therefore, these factors need to be accounted for in future studies for a complete understanding of the observed glacier changes and responses.
Despite the importance of the Himalayan glaciation, the knowledge of the glacial dynamics and the factors that influence these dynamics is scanty. Recent studies of Himalayan glaciers indicate wide variability in retreat rate and mass balance in different sectors of the mountain range, primarily linked to the topography and climate of the region. However, variable retreat rates of glaciers and inadequate supporting field data  of the Himalayan glaciers make it challenging to develop a coherent picture of climate change impact.
One of the significant characteristics of the Himalayan glaciers is that the glaciers are mainly debris-covered and have been receding since the end of the Little Ice Age. The supraglacial debris on the surface of glaciers is commonly found to have significant control over the rate of loss of mass of ice due to sun, wind, or rain . It has been observed that the thickness of supraglacial debris significantly alters the glacier response to climate forcing.
A team of scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India , quantitatively evaluated the influence of the debris cover on the loss of ice mass in summer  and on terminus recession of glaciers.
Dr. Manish Mehta and his team studied two glaciers with different characteristics --- the Pensilungpa Glacier  in Suru River and the Durung-Drung Glacier  in Doda River basins of Zanskar in the Leh district of Ladakh for a comparative study of glacier fluctuations between 1971 and 2019. While a thick debris cover characterizes the PG, the DDG has a thin debris cover, and their comparative analysis helped them trace the influence of various factors on the mass balance process.
They found that the glacier retreat rate is controlled by climate change and the topographic setting and morphology of the glacier. Their comparative study published in the journal Sustainability also confirms the possible influence of factors such as snout geometry, glacier size, elevation range, slope, aspect, debris cover, as well as the presence of supra and proglacial lakes other than the climate in the heterogeneous glacial dynamics and underlined the need to include these in glacial studies.
Publication link: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4267/pdf
Figure. Field photographs showing the snout position of the glacier in 2015 and 2019 , respectively) PG and , respectively) DDG. Red circles on photographs  is indicating the area vacated by the glaciers, and red arrows  and ) are showing the reference points.  the close-up view of the reference points used for measuring the snout retreat with the help of chain tape survey.
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SNC
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Single Window System
While presenting Budget 2020-21, Finance Minister announced plans to set up an Investment Clearance Cell  that will provide "end to end" facilitation and support to investors, including pre-investment advisory, provide information related to land banks and facilitate clearances at Centre and State level. The cell was proposed to operate through an online digital portal.
Subsequently, as per the mandate, DPIIT along with Invest India initiated the process of developing the portal as a National Single Window System . Envisioned as a one-stop for taking all the regulatory approvals and services in the country, NSWS [www.nsws.gov.in] was soft-launched on 22nd September, 2021 by Commerce & Industry Minister.
This national portal integrates the existing clearance systems of various Ministries/ Departments of Government of India and State Governments without disruption to their existing IT portals.
Currently, approvals of 19 Ministries/ Departments and 10 States Single Window Systems have been on-boarded on the NSWS Portal. List of the onboarded Ministries/ Departments and States is as below:
Ministries/ Departments integrated with NSWS:
- M/o Corporate Affairs
- M/o Environment, Forest & Climate Change
- M/o Labour& Employment
- D/o Food & Public Distribution
- D/o Consumer Affairs
- M/o Health & Family Welfare 
- D/o Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
- D/o Commerce
- D/o Telecommunications
- M/o Information & Broadcasting
- M/o Power
- M/o Railways
- D/o Biotechnology
- D/o Revenue
- M/o Civil Aviation
- M/o Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- D/o Fisheries
- M/o Textiles
- M/o Petroleum and Natural Gas
States integrated with NSWS:
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Himachal Pradesh
- Odisha
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Punjab
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
The Know Your Approvals  Module is an information wizard which guides investors to identify an indicative list of requisite pre-operations approvals/ licenses applicable. This is facilitated by answering a series of questions which gets populated basis the information provided by the investor in the previous question. Post submission of the KYA questionnaire, the investors are able to view an indicative list of licenses pertaining to the Central/ State Governments that are applicable to them. The investors are also guided on these questions and their applicability/ purpose by an Information Toolbox. This is to enhance the ease of user experience and eliminate information asymmetry on this module.
The KYA service is live on NSWS with 544 approvals across concerned 32 Central Ministries/ Departments and 2715 approvals across 14 States. Total 3259 approvals are listed.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri SomParkash, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 203.45 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 3.56 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
|
|
VACCINE DOSES
|
|

|
|
SUPPLIED
|
|
2,03,45,30,125
|
|
BALANCE AVAILABLE
|
|
3,56,67,110
More than 203.45 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 3.56 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses $are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves “The Central Educational Institutions  Bill, 2019"
University/college to be considered as one unit based on 200 point roster
7000 existing vacancies to be filled up by direct recruitment in Teachers’ Cadre
The New Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament
Giving a major push to the reforms in Education sector, making it inclusive and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people from different categories, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved theintroduction of a Bill namely "The Central Educational Institutions  Bill, 2019".
The Cabinet decision will address the long standing demands of persons belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and ensure their rights envisaged under the Constitution. It will also ensure providing of 10% reservation to EWS.
Impact:
This decision will:
- Allow filling up of more than 7000 existing vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers' Cadre with 200 point roster. Ensure compliance of the Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21.
- Ensure full representation of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections in direct recruitment in teachers' cadres.
- Expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions by attracting all eligible talented candidates belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs/EWS.
Implications:
The Bill will replace "The Central Educational Institutions  Ordinance, 2019". And will be introduced in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.
Implementation:
It will consider the University/ College as one unit restoring earlier reservation system based on 200 point roster. No longer will 'Department / Subject' be treated as one unit.
The unit for reservation of posts in direct recruitment in teachers' cadre will be the University/Educational Institutions and not the Department.
The Cabinet decision will address the long standing demands of persons belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and ensure their rights envisaged under the Constitution. It will also ensure providing of 10% reservation to EWS.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Compulsory Retirement of Goernment Employees
As per the information/data uploaded by the different Ministries/Departments/Cadre Controlling Authorities  on Probity Portal followed by the rectification requests made by some Ministries/ Departments/CCAs, during the period from July, 2014 to October, 2019 , provisions of FR 56 have been invoked against a total number of 96 Group ‘A’ officers and 126 Group ‘B’ officers of different Ministries/Departments.
Presently, there is no proposal in the Government to reduce age of retirement of Government employees below 60 years.
Re-employment of the Government servant has no bearing on the pension fixed at the time of his retirement on attaining the age of superannuation.
Department of Personnel & Training has been impressing upon all the Ministries/Departments to convene the Departmental Promotion Committee  meetings at prescribed interval  to draw panels which could be utilized for making promotion against the vacancies occurring during the course of a year. The Ministries/Departments have been further advised to initiate action to fill up the existing as well as anticipated vacancies well in advance of the expiry of the previous panel by collecting relevant documents like seniority list, Annual Performance Appraisal Report  etc. for placing before the DPCs so as to obviate the problem of delays in promotion.
The provisions under FR 56 also ensure to improve efficiency in Government.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in RajyaSabha today.
Ministry of Defence
IAF CONCLUDES RESCUE OPERATIONS AT DEOGHAR
The Indian Air Force , in close coordination with NDRF, local administration and Army, today completed the rescue of 35 stranded persons from the Trikut Hills Ropeway Service, in the Deoghar district of Jharkhand. IAF utilised two Mi-17V5, one Mi-17, one Advanced Light Helicopter  and one Cheetah to fly more than 26 hours towards this effort. Having inducted in the early hours on 11 April 2022, IAF carried out an initial recce for preparations towards an operation which presented unique challenges.
The contingent included five Garud commandos of the IAF, who had the daunting task of climbing onto the stranded trolleys of the cable cart, while being attached to the helicopter's winch cable, accessing it from outside, strapping up each survivor individually and getting them winched up and into the helicopter hovering overhead. Smaller children were carried up to the helicopter by the Garuds themselves. The helicopter crew was faced with their own challenges where they had to maintain a steady hover, with practically no visual reference, in conditions of strong winds in the hilly terrain. The crew went from one trolley to the next to carry out their task, which was as risky for the crew as it was for the survivors of the mishap.
The operation, spread over two days, also saw two unfortunate incidents wherein, despite best efforts, the survivors could not be rescued safely due to the inherently difficult nature of the rescue operation. The IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives of these two individuals and expresses its deepest condolences to their families. The IAF reaffirms its commitment to providing support, succour and relief to our citizens always and every time.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves construction and operationalisation of 100 bedded General Hospital at Najafgarh, New Delhi
The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for construction and operationalisation of 100 bedded General Hospital at Rural Health Training Centre , Najafgarh, New Delhi at an estimated cost of about Rs. 95 Crore.
The Project envisages setting up of the 100 bedded hospital in Najafgarh in two years to cater to the local population of 13.65 Lakh spread across 73 villages.
The hospital will include four major clinical services in Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Surgery, including a blood bank, diagnostic services and separate Out Patient Departments  for General Medicine, Surgery, Dental, ENT, Ophthalmology, audiometry and paediatric care through a staff of more than 30 doctors and 40 nurses, apart from 50 Allied and Healthcare staff.
This hospital will address a long-standing healthcare access issue for the local population, especially for the vulnerable sections including women and children. It will provide child and maternal services, trauma care and basic primary diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and curative services in the area.
The hospital is expected to be fully operational by May 2020 along with all departments and requisite human resources.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Advisor to J&K Governor, Shri K. Vijay Kumar calls on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh
Advisor to Jammu & Kashmir Governor, Shri K. Vijay Kumar called on Union Minister of State  for Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today. They discussed a wide range of issues related to administration and development projects in the State.
During the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction over some of the laudable decisions taken by the State Administration under the Governor’s rule during the last one month. He was particularly appreciative about the clearance given by the State Administrative Council to the "Ujh Multipurpose" project which had been stalled for several decades and for which a new draft was prepared after the intervention by the Centre.
Dr Jitendra Singh also conveyed his appreciation of the decision to get the Sarpanches of Panchayats elected directly, thus reversing the earlier decision to have an indirect election of the Sarpanches. He said, direct election of Sarpanches is imperative for strengthening genuine grassroots democracy in the local rural bodies.
Dr Jitendra Singh also made a mention of the Governor's State Administrative Council deciding to implement the Government of India's decision for abolition of interviews for lower posts and said this was long overdue, since the DoPT had issued orders on January 01, 2016. He said, this will offer a level-playing field and equal opportunities to the youth of the State from all strata of society.
Shri Vijay Kumar also discussed with Dr Jitendra Singh various issues related to Health Department.
Dr Jitendra Singh suggested that the transfer policy of doctors needs to be formulated and strictly adhered to. He also suggested prioritization of the hospitals, particularly in far-flung areas, where specialist doctors could be posted on priority, instead of allowing overcrowding of doctors in city hospitals.
Dr Jitendra Singh was also of the strong view that those of the medicos who seek admission to Medical College on the basis of RBA, LoC, etc reservation, should be bound to serve in the same area for at least 10 years after recruitment. In this regard, he cited the Maharashtra model, where any specialist doctor deciding to leave the State, is expected to pay a heavy monetary compensation for walking out of the bond agreement.
Shri Vijay Kumar gave the Minister a broad resume of several developmental activities taken up at an increased pace during the last one month.